WEBVTT

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 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

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! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

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 Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

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 This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

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 Let's dive in together into God's Word.

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 It's really been great to be able to do these kind of call and responses, which helps us engage with the text.

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 One of the things that has always been on my heart ever since I began in ministry is the importance for not only us to read Scripture,

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 but to study it, to learn from it, and to interact with it.

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 When we read together, there's just something that is so beautiful about that,

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 that we are engaging with the text, and the text is becoming more so alive.

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 I am reminded of how the Word is living and it is active.

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 It helps us not only come to know who Jesus is, but to know the grand narrative of Scripture.

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 To see how things are connected with each other, and to transform lives.

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 Can I get an amen?

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 Amen.

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 It's so important for that.

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 I'd like for you all to turn your Bibles to page 1033.

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 And I'd like to not only welcome everyone here in person, but those who are online.

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 As you guys can see, the people online cannot see.

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 We have two phones that are broadcasting.

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 One of them broadcasts to YouTube and Facebook and Rumble, and the other one is broadcasting to TikTok.

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 So we'd like to welcome all of you that are online.

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 It's just really great to have you join us and just to be a part of this.

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 And so we're going through the Gospel of Luke in chapter 11.

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 And I want to kind of open in here, just showing how important it is for us to see...

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 Turn that off real quick.

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 There we go.

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 So the Gospel of Luke chapter 11.

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 I kind of want to show you what's going on in here.

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 So we have here the Lord's Prayer, where it's starting off saying,

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 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place when he finished.

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 One of his disciples said,

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 Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples.

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 And he said to them,

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 When you pray, Father, hallowed be your name.

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 Your kingdom come.

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 Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins.

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 As we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us and lead us not into temptation.

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 Right?

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 So the Lord is showing his disciples how to pray.

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 This is where we see, and I want to skip over the parable for a second here.

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 There's then the parable.

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 And then it goes on into the importance of prayer.

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 It goes on into there, right?

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 Where it says in verse 9, I got lost for a second here.

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 In verse 9,

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 And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you.

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 Seek and you will find.

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 Knock and it will be opened to you.

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 For everyone who asks, receive.

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 And the one who seeks, finds.

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 And to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

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 So it's showing in here the importance of prayer.

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 For many of us, I want to remind all of us.

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 Listen, not only does God extend an invitation for you to believe in him.

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 Right?

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 To respond to the invitation to receive the free gift of salvation.

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 But God wants to have a relationship with you.

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 Where you communicate with the Lord.

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 And you have to ask yourself the question, how is your prayer life?

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 Please, by all means, don't answer that.

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 But think about it.

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 How often do you pray and communicate with the Lord?

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 How often do you open the word and read and study it?

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 It's not, I'm not saying that one person is better than the other.

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 It's for you to reflect on how your relationship is with the Lord.

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 This is no different than how it is with any relationship that we have.

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 Right?

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 We think of how we have friendships.

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 We have relationships.

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 Marriages.

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 We have relationships with our children.

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 All of these things require investment.

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 And what I mean by that is you got to give quality time.

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 Right?

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 We think of the five love languages.

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 For those of you, I think it's Gary Chapman is the guy's name.

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 Right?

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 The different types of love languages.

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 Spending quality time.

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 Right?

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 Giving gifts.

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 Right?

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 And all of these ways are investing into the relationships that you have every single day.

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 Well, that is no different than when you are continuing in the relationship that you have with the Lord.

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 You are to not only begin a relationship, but to maintain and continue it.

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 Sometimes I have found in my own life when I have felt alone or when I've needed comfort, I need to turn to the Lord.

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 And maybe you can identify with times where you have felt disconnected or you have felt distant from the Lord and you needed to pray and to ask God for that comfort in your life.

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 Because here's the thing.

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 When we think of how God is our comforter, he is our protector, he is our firm foundation, there's all these languages that are describing the attributes of God.

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 We think of God protecting us.

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 What beautiful imagery that gives us.

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 We think of having Christ as the firm foundation for our lives just as we've gone before that when storms happen in our lives, we still have God as our foundation.

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 And so the disciples are asking the Lord the question when we go back to the text here, Lord, to teach us how to pray.

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 What an amazing question to ask Jesus.

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 Teach us how to pray.

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 And so in there, we see that this parable is kind of, it is sandwiched between the importance of asking for our daily bread and the importance of asking, seeking and knocking.

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 And I want to kind of show you not only the context, but the connections that are in here.

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 So we're going to go into verses five through eight, which we've read together, right?

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 It begins where Jesus is saying, which of you has a friend?

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 We'll go to him at midnight and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I have nothing to set before him.

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 Now, I want you to think for a moment, how many of you have had someone who's come out of the woodworks and has knocked on your door at a really inconvenient time, right?

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 We can probably think of times when we're running late for a doctor's appointment and then you have someone say, hey, can you help me out real quick?

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 And you're like, are you kidding me?

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 I've got places to go.

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 I've got people to see.

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 I've got, you know, there's all these, don't you understand what a schedule is?

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 I'm sure for all of us, we've had a story like that, or maybe you are the person that has reached out to someone before, right?

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 Not to put you on the spot here, but maybe you have needed help from someone like, hey, my tire is flat.

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 I need some help here, right?

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 I can't tell you how many times in my own personal life there have been times where it's usually when I'm in a rush, right?

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 Usually when you're in a rush and you got to go somewhere important, then God sends someone your way and you've got to have a conversation

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 or they need help or whatever it is.

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 And this is a moment that we're seeing here in the text, right?

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 It's saying here, friend, lend me three loaves.

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 A friend of mine has arrived on the journey and I have nothing to set before him.

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 And he will answer from within.

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 How many of you got your Bibles open on here, right?

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 Do not bother me.

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 Don't bother me.

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 Get out of here.

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 The door's shut and my children are with me in bed.

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 I can't get up and give you anything.

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 I tell you, he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend.

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 Yet, because of his what church?

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 His impudence.

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 Some translations say his persistence.

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 The guy's not leaving.

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 He needs help.

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 And I want you to think for a moment because not only is this relatable to the world that we live in today,

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 it's also very real to the time back in the day.

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 Now, think about it.

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 Now, some of us, you don't have to raise your hand.

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 You probably have ring cameras or a doorbell at least, right?

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 If someone's ringing the doorbell, eventually you're going to get, come on, leave me alone, right?

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 My kids are asleep late at night.

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 Well, when we're considering the culture of the time, it was very common to have a one-room household.

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 Now, here's the insane thing.

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 When my children were very little, very common what would happen would be they'd cuddle with mom and dad,

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 and I would get booted off the bed.

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 Eventually, it would be mom cuddling with all the children, right?

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 And eventually, look, listen, they don't do that anymore.

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 They sleep in their own bed.

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 But when they're very little, it's a common thing that happens, right?

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 I get this image of sleeping on a bed or on the ground, and your children are just there with you, right?

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 Or your entire family is there with you to get up and to answer the door and to kind of step over everyone.

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 Make sure you don't trip and fall.

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 Because, you know, when they're covered in blankets or whatever, you might trip and fall.

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 You might step on a foot.

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 Not that that's happened to any of us before, right?

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 We have those kind of moments.

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 Or the famous, your kid left a very sharp Lego, and my gosh, how sharp is that thing will pierce my skin.

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 I've gotten bruised before by stepping on a Lego before.

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 It's those moments where you're like, okay, I need to help out with what's going on, right?

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 And so it's talking about this shameless boldness.

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 Now, for those of you who were here when we went over the parable of the persistent widow,

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 that is a very similar scene as what's happening here.

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 I'll give you a real quick recap.

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 There was a widow who wanted justice from a really wicked judge.

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 He neither feared God nor he respected man.

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 That was a double negative right there, a double whammy as it were.

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 But the widow was so persistent in demanding justice that eventually it says in the text,

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 we're not going there, but it says in the text that the judge was so bothered by this widow's persistent

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 that he gave her justice.

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 And it's very similar to what we're finding here in the text today.

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 That the friend at midnight who is asking for bread is being persistent.

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 Now, in the original languages, it's very different, but it's the same concept.

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 So it's anadea, which is shameless boldness or being persistent outside the door.

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 Can you help a friend out?

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 Please.

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 And I'm going to be persistent.

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 I really need help here.

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 Now, what's also interesting is that in the culture at that time, it was very important to,

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 if someone came to the door, it was more culturally appropriate.

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 You got to help them.

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 So there's that tension that's going on where it's like, well, I know I got to help this guy,

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 but I don't want to, right?

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 We can identify with that, right?

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 I know I probably should help him, but I don't really want to.

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 But in these moments, it's through the persistence that's happening that we can see this, right?

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 So we think of how, isn't it interesting that the prior verses are talking about,

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 give us this day our daily bread.

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 And here you have a parable that's showing someone who's asking for bread.

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 Isn't that very interesting?

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 Kind of showing a real life example, as it were.

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 We also have the friend and the household, right?

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 Where there's this relationship, right?

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 And this consistency.

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 And what's always interesting in scripture is when you see the case of something happening at midnight,

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 right?

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 An inconvenient hour, an inconvenient time, or an unexpected time.

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 Much like we found in the parable of the 10 virgins, right?

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 Where they were waiting for the bridegroom to come.

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 And at midnight, at an unexpected hour, the bridegroom returned.

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 So there are many times in scripture where midnight is an unexpected or just something that catches you off guard.

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 And we can identify where there have been times someone has caught us literally at midnight or at an inconvenience time.

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 And so we also have anadeia, which is the shameless boldness and persistence.

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 It's not necessarily being rude.

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 It's, well, there's a sense of urgency that's happening here.

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 I really need your help here.

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 I'm really asking my friend for bread.

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 And this is showing the, not only the persistence of the friend at midnight,

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 but it's showing on how we should be persistent in our prayer life when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.

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 There's this direct connection that happens with that.

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 And so in Jewish culture, as I was mentioning, failing to feed a guest was not really a good thing.

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 It was considered a disgrace or uncommon.

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 Like, why would you be so rude to a stranger?

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 We might kind of identify with that, but obviously more so back then.

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 And then, of course, as I mentioned, the one-room home.

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 And then, of course, the friend that was visiting at night.

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 We can think of how, in that time period, a desert climate.

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 You know, it's kind of when you think of, when it gets really hot,

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 if you don't have air conditioning or your air conditioning is broken in your vehicle,

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 you don't want to really drive in the hottest part of the day, right?

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 Or when you're working outside, you don't want to be in the hottest part of the day.

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 I mean, unless you absolutely have to, right?

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 So it's very similar when we're talking about the culture that

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 the friend would want to go at night when it's cooler in the day.

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 And so what I find very interesting, and I want to kind of make it clear as we're

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 going through this, is how this parable is connected with the asking, seeking, and knocking.

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 Very often, that particular verse is used in a more name-it-and-claim-it type of theology,

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 where you find some people are saying, you know, if I think it, it will come into existence.

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 Well, that's not entirely accurate.

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 We have to think that when we are praying to the Lord, when we are seeking the Lord,

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 when we are praying for divine intervention, it is in accordance to His will that it will happen.

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 Because God answers in yes, no, or not yet.

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 And here's the thing.

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 Sometimes we can have ridiculous prayers.

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 Hey, God, I'd like a mansion, right?

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 I'm sure some of us have prayed that prayer.

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 Please, by golly, don't raise your hand on that one, right?

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 Or there have been moments where we've thought of kind of that type of prayer, right?

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 But when we're looking at this, it's talking about the persistence of prayer

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 when it comes to help and provision and guidance and comfort from the Lord.

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 That's very different than asking for a Lamborghini or asking for a McMansion.

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 So I want to make that very clear, as that is something that gets very,

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 unfortunately, gets misunderstood.

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 And the other thing is that I also want you to,

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 another way that when people read this parable, they may think,

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 well, is God a grumpy neighbor?

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 That he doesn't want to be bothered?

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 No, because it's showing how much more God has love for us

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 than the human understanding of things.

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 Much like how when I mentioned the parable of the persistent widow,

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 the whole premise of that was that there are wicked judges

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 and you got to demand for justice and eventually they'll give you justice.

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 But God will give justice far greater than what man has to give.

00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.200
 Can I get an amen on that?

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.559
 Does that, that should make sense for us.

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.379
 And in the same way, it's not saying God is some grumpy neighbor

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:43.419
 that doesn't want to, you know, wake up at night because he's sleeping.

00:16:43.939 --> 00:16:50.239
 No, it's saying that God's, how God provides is much greater than what man can give.

00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:53.319
 It's something that we find very often in scripture.

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:56.699
 So I want to also make that very clear when we're going through this.

00:16:56.700 --> 00:17:02.379
 And so as we have gone through the text here at Ontario Community Church,

00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:05.580
 we use what is known as the OIA method.

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:08.180
 It is observation, interpretation, and application.

00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:12.019
 The O is a representation as scripture is our source.

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:15.039
 We open the word of God and by golly, we're going to read it

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.680
 and we're going to wrestle with it together, right?

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.240
 The I then is what we can learn from this.

00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:24.039
 And the A is what we can do about this.

00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:28.539
 So we go now into the I is what can we learn from this?

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.060
 Well, when we think of persistence, we have to think of the sense of urgency.

00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:36.620
 It's a matter of the heart that this person was going and knocking

00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:40.900
 and trying to get bread because he cared for his own visitor.

00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.259
 He cared for the person at hand.

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:45.039
 And so this is certainly a heart thing.

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.119
 I really need help.

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:50.440
 We don't know why he needed the, well, we know why he needed the bread,

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.579
 but why he didn't have bread to provide.

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.839
 Could have been he ran out of money, right?

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:58.019
 It could have been the local market was closed or whatever.

00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.579
 We can identify with these kind of things, right?

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:04.660
 If someone needs help really late at night, well, hey, I'm sorry,

00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:06.839
 but can you help me with my tire?

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:11.259
 The mechanic or the auto shop is closed, right?

00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:13.000
 We can think of those kind of things.

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.660
 In a very similar manner.

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:20.099
 And so when we're thinking of prayer, then it begins with the heart.

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:25.539
 When we are seeking God, it's how is your heart towards the Lord?

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.779
 Why are you praying to the Lord to begin with?

00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:31.660
 Is it with good or is it with evil intent?

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:33.460
 Those are the kind of things to consider.

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:40.579
 So we approach the Lord as our friend, just as we sang that song,

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.120
 what a friend we have in Jesus.

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:48.019
 And so the request is from another purpose for another person.

00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:52.640
 And so very often when we pray, yes, we pray for ourselves,

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:55.900
 but we also should pray for other people who are in need.

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:59.860
 Each and every one of you have different relationships with people.

00:19:00.820 --> 00:19:06.680
 And when we think about it, we know who they are.

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.360
 We know our friends.

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.060
 We know our family so well.

00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.320
 And we can pray on their behalf.

00:19:12.800 --> 00:19:15.560
 Do any of you know my relationship with my sister?

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.540
 The answer is no.

00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.920
 I mean, unless you really know them.

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:21.300
 So it's my responsibility to pray for my sister.

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.220
 I'll give you a real life example.

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:27.240
 She's about to have her firstborn daughter on the 18th.

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:30.000
 You can pray for her by all means.

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:33.240
 She was told she could never have children.

00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:36.259
 My mother was told she could never have children.

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.960
 And God has a different say, amen?

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:42.960
 And we should, all I'm saying to bring up my sister and my mother

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:46.079
 is that we pray for other people.

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:50.120
 We make our requests known to the Lord and praying on,

00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:53.919
 hey, I've got a friend who is struggling with this.

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:59.779
 I am praying for healing for a broken marriage.

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:04.859
 I'm praying for transformation for someone's hardened heart to be softened.

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:07.679
 We can think of these kind of things.

00:20:08.459 --> 00:20:10.539
 The second thing is what, church?

00:20:10.719 --> 00:20:11.419
 To be what?

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.619
 Be persistent in prayer.

00:20:13.719 --> 00:20:17.339
 Just as scripture says that we are to pray without ceasing.

00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:17.939
 Right?

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:22.439
 When I mentioned the Greek anadeia or anadeia,

00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:25.519
 shameless, unembarrassed persistence.

00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:28.059
 Pray to the Lord.

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:31.119
 It's a spiritual discipline, as it were.

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.119
 Right?

00:20:32.179 --> 00:20:35.179
 When we read the word of God, we are going to read it every week.

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:38.339
 When we take communion here, we do that once a month.

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:40.199
 And that's on a church level.

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:47.539
 And we should think about how, what are our spiritual habits?

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.100
 What does that look like?

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:52.039
 And certainly we should all be in prayer.

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:58.240
 And so part of the point of the parable is this idea that

00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:02.259
 if persistence can move a grumpy neighbor,

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:08.940
 how much more will God be moved when we are persistent in prayer?

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.259
 Think of it like that.

00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:14.680
 And as I've mentioned before and I'll mention again,

00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:19.500
 God will answer with yes, no, or not yet.

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:24.759
 And so in that, we finally have the third point here,

00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:27.519
 which is God provides our daily bread.

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.200
 We think, do we think,

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:31.680
 I want you to think for a moment.

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:34.559
 God provides what we need.

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.580
 I'm speaking of spiritual nourishment.

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:41.019
 I'm speaking of the times where God has provided for you

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:43.080
 when you had no other way out.

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:46.400
 I can't tell you, you know,

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:48.519
 there have been times in my own life where

00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:51.059
 I ran out of money.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:55.840
 And I found I had an envelope of $200 left.

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:57.360
 And I was like, where did that come from?

00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:00.299
 And I had no recollection of that.

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.419
 Or you get your, you know,

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:04.419
 you get some sort of rebate or something.

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:07.059
 And that's financial, but there's other things as well.

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:10.719
 When we think of how God answers prayer in his timing.

00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:12.979
 I mentioned as an example,

00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:16.139
 my sister who was told that she could not have children.

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.979
 I think of my own wife who was told

00:22:17.979 --> 00:22:19.619
 that she could not have children.

00:22:20.139 --> 00:22:24.039
 That's three instances of people that I personally know

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:28.039
 who, and I'm not criticizing the medical profession.

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:30.299
 I'm saying that God has a much greater say

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:32.259
 than medical professionals do.

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:34.819
 I want to make that abundantly clear.

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:38.740
 That when my wife and I were dating,

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:42.420
 we were told we would not have children.

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:46.879
 And we got married and we just prayed to the Lord

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:49.460
 consistently and persistently

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:51.360
 that maybe one day we would have children.

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:54.460
 And it was very hard four years of our life,

00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:56.579
 but God eventually did answer by,

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:59.200
 well, you see my five children.

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:02.759
 So you can, you can see that God has provided.

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:04.059
 And it's been a blessing.

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:06.559
 And I thank God every day

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:09.180
 for what he has provided.

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:12.320
 And so in all of this,

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.320
 the idea when it comes to God provides our daily bread,

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.019
 he gives us salvation.

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.640
 He gives us what we need.

00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:21.460
 And we are to share that.

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.220
 Much like how we are to share

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:26.400
 in the gospel message with other people, right?

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:31.640
 There are, why would we want to not share in our testimony?

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.600
 Why wouldn't we tell people

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:36.799
 about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.080
 Why wouldn't we want to do that?

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.319
 It's so important for us

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:43.460
 as we have responded or received,

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.319
 or if you haven't,

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:45.720
 you should respond and receive

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.279
 the free gift of salvation.

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.779
 Share it with other people.

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:51.460
 Or as you're growing in Christ

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:53.039
 and you're reading the word of God

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.879
 and you're learning what it means to be a Christian,

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.480
 God is working in your life.

00:23:57.679 --> 00:24:00.399
 That's a call for you to share with other people as well.

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.419
 Now, some people may not understand.

00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.859
 Some people may not even agree,

00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:07.399
 but it's still our call to share with others.

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.460
 And so,

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:13.259
 you'd be surprised in how God,

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:18.199
 very often God will answer through people that you meet.

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:21.819
 Can you imagine if God is working through you

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:24.379
 and when you speak to someone that

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:27.619
 God is working through you to speak to them

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:30.179
 about a very specific thing they've been praying about

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:33.299
 or God wants some insight or wisdom,

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.779
 whatever it is.

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:39.080
 It's just really incredible how all of that works.

00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:42.980
 We now go into the application then.

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.620
 How should we live?

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.759
 How should we respond?

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.519
 How do we act upon this?

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.420
 Well, the first one,

00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:50.799
 as always,

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:53.720
 is to believe and begin in a relationship with Christ.

00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:55.839
 That is the most important thing.

00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:00.980
 It's very convicting when sometimes I meet up with pastors

00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:05.460
 and the Lord has laid on their heart that they say things that

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:10.380
 I don't know who is and who isn't saved.

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.340
 That's kind of a scary thought

00:25:12.340 --> 00:25:14.220
 and that's certainly a conviction to think about.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.000
 But it's always,

00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:18.000
 for every sermon that's preached,

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:20.360
 we always need to go back to the basics.

00:25:21.320 --> 00:25:22.400
 Believing in that,

00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:24.580
 the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:27.140
 That whosoever believes shall not perish,

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.320
 but have eternal life.

00:25:29.260 --> 00:25:30.200
 And hopefully,

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.340
 everyone here has responded to the gospel.

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.320
 If you haven't,

00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:40.460
 believe in the death, burial,

00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:42.679
 and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:45.899
 That is the core of our faith.

00:25:46.679 --> 00:25:47.240
 So begin.

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.500
 Believe and begin.

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:50.639
 Trust in Christ

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:52.700
 and grow in him.

00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.839
 Begin that relationship.

00:25:54.139 --> 00:25:54.859
 Pray to the Lord.

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.839
 Be on a spiritual journey

00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:59.119
 of transformation and newness

00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:02.399
 because God makes things new.

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.180
 God takes what is broken and restores it.

00:26:07.540 --> 00:26:11.840
 When I was on the pastoral retreat in Tennessee,

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:15.560
 there was a gentleman there.

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:18.480
 There was a few more charismatic people that were there.

00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:19.759
 You love them.

00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:24.320
 And when we were praying for all of the pastors there,

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.700
 there was this one guy who kept saying,

00:26:28.080 --> 00:26:32.140
 I'm getting this image of a broken bowl

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:34.720
 and a man who is bringing it together.

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:37.120
 And I don't understand what that means.

00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:41.060
 I know exactly what that meant.

00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:43.800
 When we think of this church,

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.280
 the history of it,

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:47.740
 and the idea of Kintsugi,

00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:51.280
 that God takes that which is broken

00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:52.420
 and brings it together,

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:54.220
 we think of a smaller scale

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.500
 of a broken plate,

00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.660
 a bowl,

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.440
 and bringing it together,

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:01.240
 filling it with gold,

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.860
 making it more valuable

00:27:02.860 --> 00:27:04.680
 than it once was to begin with,

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.980
 and then think for a moment,

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.799
 how often are we

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:12.000
 like that broken plate?

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:15.700
 How often are we in needing

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:17.259
 to be picked up

00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.600
 and put back together?

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:21.259
 And I remember that was kind of,

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.079
 it gave me chills.

00:27:22.199 --> 00:27:23.219
 It made me think for a moment,

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:23.579
 okay,

00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:25.539
 God is working in this place

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.619
 through this man.

00:27:27.219 --> 00:27:29.159
 And eventually I did tell him,

00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:29.480
 I said,

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:29.759
 okay,

00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:31.159
 that's known as Kintsugi.

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:31.699
 Ken what?

00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.899
 What is that?

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:35.399
 But it was a very wonderful moment

00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:37.759
 that just really made me think of

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.419
 who God is

00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:41.119
 and how he restores us

00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.359
 and he brings pieces together.

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.039
 And so that's something

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.639
 that is incredible.

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:51.200
 As you are being restored,

00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:53.799
 as you're brought back together,

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:56.359
 God is still going to work in you.

00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:58.519
 He's going to mold you.

00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.460
 He's going to continue

00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.599
 to transform you.

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.619
 And by golly,

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.079
 may you be on a journey

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.099
 of that transformation

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:06.779
 to become more like Christ,

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:10.460
 to go into the light,

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.139
 as it were,

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:13.740
 to know the truth of God's word

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:17.019
 and to follow in his way.

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:20.039
 So we have the second one,

00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:22.220
 which is practice persistent prayer,

00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:24.440
 to pray without ceasing.

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:27.099
 It's important for us

00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.120
 to continue to pray,

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:29.279
 even when it seems like,

00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:32.720
 and don't raise your hand on this,

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.640
 but we can all identify

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.559
 with a time we're praying to the Lord

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:38.660
 for God to answer now.

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:41.940
 How many of us had a prayer

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.900
 answered immediately?

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.920
 Nobody's raising their hand.

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:50.480
 Okay, so what I'm saying is

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.600
 maybe once in a while

00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.900
 we might have an immediate answer.

00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:54.779
 But more often than not,

00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.700
 there is a time of waiting

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:59.519
 for God to respond on his timing.

00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:01.740
 If God answers immediately,

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.440
 praise God.

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:04.340
 If God answers seven days

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.160
 or seven years,

00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:06.540
 praise God for him

00:29:06.540 --> 00:29:07.440
 giving you an answer.

00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.440
 It's us faithfully waiting

00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.480
 upon the Lord.

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.340
 And consider,

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:15.480
 what is your habit of prayer?

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:17.519
 When would you like to pray?

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.400
 Consider the habit.

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:21.860
 Consider the spiritual practice.

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.860
 For some people,

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.820
 it's when you get in the car.

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.180
 You got to commute

00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.940
 all the way to Boise,

00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.559
 or you got to go

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.340
 all the way to Portland,

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.799
 or wherever it is you got to go.

00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:31.000
 You're going to pray for the trip,

00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.580
 and you're going to pray

00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.700
 for people on the trip.

00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:35.580
 Or if you fly all the time.

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.539
 Well, Lord,

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.439
 I pray for safety,

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.919
 but I also want to take some time

00:29:39.919 --> 00:29:41.339
 to pray for other people as well.

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.699
 It could be right before you go to bed.

00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:45.699
 On a very personal note,

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:46.539
 I'll tell you that

00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:48.000
 my wife and I,

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:49.099
 we have decided

00:29:49.099 --> 00:29:51.339
 that how important it is

00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.919
 to read from Scripture,

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.419
 to pray,

00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:56.720
 and to play a worship song

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:58.039
 at night for the children.

00:29:58.699 --> 00:29:59.179
 Now, granted,

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.220
 I can't do that every day.

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.839
 Sometimes I'm out late at night.

00:30:01.939 --> 00:30:03.879
 Sometimes we get home so late,

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.200
 it's like everybody's tired.

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:07.180
 But it's that intentionality

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.940
 that's so important.

00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:12.340
 And it's helped my family,

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.900
 and I'm sure that for you

00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:15.800
 who have a spiritual practice,

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.760
 it helps you.

00:30:17.520 --> 00:30:19.560
 It helps you connect with the Lord,

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:21.280
 building on that relationship.

00:30:23.020 --> 00:30:24.120
 And so finally,

00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:26.380
 we have,

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:28.820
 be prepared to what?

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:32.860
 To help unexpectedly, right?

00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:35.299
 There may be a time

00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:36.719
 where someone will come

00:30:36.719 --> 00:30:37.799
 knocking at your door,

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:39.139
 literally at midnight, right?

00:30:39.979 --> 00:30:41.240
 Or someone may come

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.099
 knocking at your door

00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:43.439
 at an inconvenient time.

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.079
 That is the idea here.

00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.899
 In other words,

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:48.879
 be inconvenience ready,

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.919
 as it were, right?

00:30:50.459 --> 00:30:52.519
 Expect the unexpected to happen.

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.959
 Sometimes it might be time

00:30:54.959 --> 00:30:57.179
 where you just need

00:30:57.179 --> 00:30:58.399
 to stop what you're doing,

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.719
 talk with someone,

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.839
 pray with someone,

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:03.659
 reflect on something.

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:06.220
 It might be literal bread.

00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:08.439
 It might be a neighbor asking,

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.659
 hey, I really like your sourdough.

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:12.419
 Can I show my neighbor, right?

00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.720
 But really,

00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.480
 it might be someone

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.980
 who is in need for food

00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.639
 or for drink,

00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:17.759
 those kind of things.

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.859
 It might even be,

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.599
 hey, can you pray for me?

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:24.740
 Absolutely.

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.279
 You know,

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:28.879
 one thing that I really try to do,

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.240
 and I know as a pastor,

00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.300
 it can be very difficult,

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.740
 is pray.

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.420
 When someone asks for prayer,

00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:35.260
 pray right there.

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.440
 Because very often we say,

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.200
 I'll pray for you,

00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:39.520
 and then you forget about it.

00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:41.940
 But if you have the opportunity,

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:43.580
 and maybe you need to make time

00:31:43.580 --> 00:31:44.960
 in that opportunity,

00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:46.280
 pray right then and there.

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:49.059
 because you might forget.

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.599
 You might get busy.

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.420
 You might miss the opportunity.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.160
 So take advantage of that opportunity.

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:58.899
 And pray and help how you can.

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:00.559
 You know?

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.160
 Open the door.

00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.240
 Share your table.

00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:05.220
 And involve.

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.619
 And think for a moment,

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.579
 who is,

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:09.939
 is there someone knocking

00:32:09.939 --> 00:32:11.399
 at your door right now?

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.199
 Is there someone

00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:14.539
 who is asking for help,

00:32:14.659 --> 00:32:15.519
 prayer, assistance,

00:32:15.699 --> 00:32:17.039
 in any sort of capacity?

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.480
 And then think about it

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.480
 on another level.

00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:20.819
 How important it is

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:22.679
 for us to consistently pray,

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.779
 to ask,

00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:24.399
 to seek,

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.220
 and to knock.

00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:28.559
 Continuing to pursue the Lord.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.099
 The grace

00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:31.339
 and the truth

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.339
 that comes from Him.

00:32:32.939 --> 00:32:34.339
 And the continued transformation.

00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:35.859
 As I mentioned

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.399
 in the beginning

00:32:36.399 --> 00:32:37.480
 of this sermon,

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:39.000
 it's important for us

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.099
 to pour into

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:41.279
 our relationships.

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.480
 It's important for us

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.500
 to pour into

00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.679
 the relationship

00:32:45.679 --> 00:32:47.099
 that we have with God

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.720
 as God is going

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.960
 to pour into you.

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:52.259
 How important it is

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.279
 to continue

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.799
 that relationship.

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.119
 Begin and continue

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.779
 and grow.

00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.779
 And as I always mention here,

00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.519
 be moved

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.319
 to do good

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.199
 in Christ's name.

00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.579
 Think of how you can

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.819
 serve the community.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.899
 Serve the church.

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.180
 be a light

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.160
 in this dark

00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:10.060
 and broken world.

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:11.560
 These are things

00:33:11.560 --> 00:33:12.200
 for us

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:14.019
 to really think about.

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.380
 And so,

00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.540
 the prayer at,

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.980
 the visitor at midnight,

00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:19.180
 the friend at midnight,

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:22.060
 it's about trusting in God.

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:24.380
 It's about persistently praying

00:33:24.380 --> 00:33:26.100
 or the anandia, right?

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.900
 The shameless persistence.

00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:30.320
 Did you know that word

00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:31.340
 is the only time

00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:32.240
 it's shown in Scripture?

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.080
 I always am fascinated

00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:34.740
 when you find

00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:36.040
 a Greek word

00:33:36.040 --> 00:33:37.440
 that is very rare

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.960
 or never shown in there.

00:33:39.040 --> 00:33:39.480
 It'd kind of

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.540
 be a little harder

00:33:40.540 --> 00:33:41.180
 to struggle with

00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:41.840
 because you don't find

00:33:41.840 --> 00:33:43.120
 many connections with that.

00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:44.600
 Which is why I mentioned

00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.600
 how important it is

00:33:45.600 --> 00:33:46.480
 for us to look at

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.680
 not just the context,

00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.940
 but the connections

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.120
 within Scripture.

00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:52.259
 to see the widow's

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.739
 persistence

00:33:52.739 --> 00:33:54.439
 before a wicked judge

00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:55.839
 is very similar

00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:57.419
 in this persistence

00:33:57.419 --> 00:33:58.559
 that the friend

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.599
 had at midnight.

00:34:00.959 --> 00:34:01.379
 And so,

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:04.679
 consider all

00:34:04.679 --> 00:34:05.979
 of these things.

00:34:07.419 --> 00:34:08.819
 Don't grow weary.

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.039
 Continue to be

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.359
 in prayer with the Lord.

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:14.199
 And know that God

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.059
 is there with you.

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:17.259
 Know that He is awake

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.079
 and not sleepy.

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:18.380
 Amen?

00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:20.539
 That's a beautiful thing.

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.079
 We fall asleep.

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.659
 We should for eight hours, right?

00:34:24.799 --> 00:34:25.299
 If we're talking

00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:26.179
 healthy habits here.

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.619
 Not a lot of us do.

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.159
 I get it.

00:34:29.099 --> 00:34:30.299
 But our Lord,

00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:30.820
 our God,

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.739
 is awake.

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.599
 He's not dead.

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.960
 He's not asleep.

00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.659
 He is alive

00:34:36.659 --> 00:34:37.900
 and He is awake.

00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:39.320
 And so,

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:41.199
 as you receive bread,

00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:42.400
 share.

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:44.299
 As you receive the gospel,

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.240
 share.

00:34:46.120 --> 00:34:48.180
 As you receive new insight

00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:49.140
 and when you study

00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:50.000
 the Word of God,

00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:51.780
 share in your insights

00:34:51.780 --> 00:34:52.840
 with other people.

00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:54.680
 And so,

00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:55.720
 in all of this,

00:34:56.100 --> 00:34:56.800
 let us think

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.780
 in our minds

00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.620
 and in our hearts

00:34:58.620 --> 00:35:00.660
 this idea

00:35:00.660 --> 00:35:02.100
 of the friend

00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:02.840
 at midnight.

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.280
 May we,

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.700
 if there is someone

00:35:05.700 --> 00:35:06.420
 who asks,

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.840
 may we help.

00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:10.120
 And may we understand

00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:11.220
 that when we are

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.920
 like the friend

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.880
 going to the Lord,

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:14.579
 God is awake

00:35:14.579 --> 00:35:15.880
 and He is there

00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:16.500
 for us,

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:18.340
 ready to continue

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:19.220
 that relationship

00:35:19.220 --> 00:35:20.280
 with us.

00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:21.920
 Let's pray together.

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:23.720
 And Father God,

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:24.400
 we thank You

00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:25.079
 for this time

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.840
 and this opportunity

00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:27.140
 for us to gather together.

00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.800
 We're just so grateful

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:30.320
 for all of the things

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.200
 that You have done

00:35:31.200 --> 00:35:31.660
 and the things

00:35:31.660 --> 00:35:32.320
 that You continue

00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:32.760
 to do.

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:35.540
 You are the God

00:35:35.540 --> 00:35:36.140
 of transformation

00:35:36.140 --> 00:35:37.460
 and may we understand

00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:39.900
 this very interesting parable

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.880
 that is showing

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.620
 the importance

00:35:41.620 --> 00:35:42.900
 of constantly

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.760
 being in prayer.

00:35:44.040 --> 00:35:44.940
 May we understand,

00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:45.480
 may we,

00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:46.480
 number one,

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.360
 learn the importance

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.660
 of helping those in need,

00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:51.380
 but may we also realize

00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.620
 that we need

00:35:52.620 --> 00:35:53.100
 to continue

00:35:53.100 --> 00:35:53.920
 to seek God.

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.240
 We need to continue

00:35:55.240 --> 00:35:55.980
 seeking You

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:58.560
 and let You mold us

00:35:58.560 --> 00:35:59.540
 and transform us

00:35:59.540 --> 00:36:00.660
 and to provide for us.

00:36:00.659 --> 00:36:01.399
 And Father,

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:03.440
 I pray that if there is anyone

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:05.099
 who has not made a decision

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.679
 for Christ,

00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:06.559
 may they believe

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.500
 in Your Son,

00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.319
 Jesus Christ,

00:36:08.399 --> 00:36:08.679
 the way,

00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.119
 the truth,

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:09.659
 and the life.

00:36:09.899 --> 00:36:11.420
 I pray that there is

00:36:11.420 --> 00:36:12.659
 healing in this place,

00:36:12.859 --> 00:36:13.339
 transformation,

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.759
 new insight.

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:16.219
 May we know You,

00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:18.000
 may we grow in You,

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:19.599
 and may we be moved

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.659
 to do good

00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:22.000
 in Your holy name.

00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.719
 We're grateful

00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:25.599
 for Your Word,

00:36:25.839 --> 00:36:26.440
 we're grateful

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.399
 for this congregation,

00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:28.819
 and we're grateful

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:29.519
 for everyone

00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.299
 who is here

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:30.960
 and even those

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.980
 who are not here,

00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:33.440
 we pray for their safety,

00:36:33.660 --> 00:36:34.420
 whether they're sick

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.060
 or traveling.

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.400
 Be with them.

00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.960
 May everyone

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.440
 who is here present,

00:36:40.080 --> 00:36:40.940
 here watching,

00:36:41.160 --> 00:36:42.320
 or those who will listen

00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.380
 or watch later,

00:36:43.820 --> 00:36:44.720
 may they know

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:46.760
 that You love them.

00:36:47.260 --> 00:36:48.160
 You invite them

00:36:48.160 --> 00:36:49.500
 to the table of plenty,

00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:50.880
 into salvation

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.780
 by receiving,

00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:54.360
 salvation by belief

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:54.960
 in You.

00:36:56.440 --> 00:36:57.380
 We love You,

00:36:57.720 --> 00:36:58.420
 we praise You,

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.320
 we glorify You,

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.100
 and we honor You.

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.440
 It is in the name

00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:02.080
 of Jesus

00:37:02.080 --> 00:37:02.940
 that we pray

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.900
 and we all say together,

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.140
 Amen.

00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:05.220
 Amen.

00:37:07.160 --> 00:37:08.280
 Thank you for listening

00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.420
 for this week's message

00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.880
 from Ontario Community Church.

00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:13.380
 I pray that you are encouraged

00:37:13.380 --> 00:37:14.380
 and strengthened

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.660
 in your walk with Christ.

00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:16.920
 For more sermons

00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:17.700
 and resources,

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.600
 visit

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:21.000
 OntarioCommunityChurch.org.

00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:22.640
 May God bless you

00:37:22.640 --> 00:37:23.519
 as you live out

00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.840
 His grace and truth

00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:26.019
 every single day.

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.179
 miracle miracle

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:27.179


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